How to Run a Sheep Farm

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (6 Ratings)

Compared to other animals sheep are relatively easy to raise if you choose the right breed. You will still have to devote some time each day to tend your sheep. However, that small amount of time can translate into a decent amount of money when you are running a sheep farm.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Fence
Shelter
Trimming tools
Shearing tools
Hay

Step 1

Have a fenced-off piece of land ready before you get the sheep. You need at least one acre depending on the number of sheep you will have on the farm.
Step 2

Set up a shelter for the sheep. This should be a place they can get out of the wind and rain that will keep the hay dry.
Step 3

Choose the breed you want on your sheep farm. This will depend on what you want to do with your sheep: breed them, sell them for meat, use their milk or sell their wool.
Step 4

Keep hay and water clean for consumption. This will be a daily chore when you're running your sheep farm.
Step 5

Trim your sheep's hooves every other month. This will keep them from getting infected.
Step 6

Use trimming time to vaccinate your sheep. They will need regular medications and a good time to dose them is when you have them gathered.

Tips & Warnings

Speak with other sheep farmers and visit their farms before you begin. This will give you a good working knowledge of a sheep farm and help you decide if it's right for you.
You might need a truck to haul your sheep and hay. You can elect to have the hay delivered, so don't rush out and buy a truck unless you plan to move your sheep often.
Schedule time each year to breed your sheep. This will ensure a continued flock. You can sell the lambs or keep them to increase the size of your flock.

Resources

Let Sheep 101 teach you the basics of sheep farming.

Comments

Shepherdess said

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on 4/28/2008 Ok, as a Shepherdess myself, I can only say that I WISH it were this easy!!!!!

kittyk9 said

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on 10/7/2007 Sheep require more than hay to for their wellbeing.Mineralblocks,especially for sheep,(since they dont need copper),is essential,as is corn and pelleted feed,especially for the lambs and pregnant ewes.